不管病因如何，终末期肾显微结构相似，因此肾活检在判断病因方面意义不大。它表现为皮质纤维化、肾小球硬化、慢性炎细胞弥散侵润、动脉壁增厚；部分肾小管常扩张并充满粉红色的胶样管型，形态与甲状腺滤泡相似。
The microscopic appearance of the "end stage kidney" is similar regardless of cause, which is why a biopsy in a patient with chronic renal failure yields little useful information. The cortex is fibrotic, the glomeruli are sclerotic, there are scattered chronic inflammatory cell infiltrates, and the arteries are thickened. Tubules are often dilated and filled with pink casts and give an appearance of "thyroidization."
